Western cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1886-1887, 1887-09-02
THE REASONS DEMANDED
WHY WAS THE IRISH LEAGUE
PROCLAIMED
0lAdstOne's Resolution OF Inquiry Pre-
SSnted-The Government Declines to
Give MISUNDERSTANDING News

1.-Two ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS N0WA
LONDON, Aug. 2o.-Mr Gladstone was
greeted with cheers in the House Of Com
mons last evening when he arose to
move his resolution shat humble address
be presented to the Queen representing that
tho viceroy OF Ireland has proclaimed the
National League a dangerous association;
that no information has been furnished to
Parliament to justify the proclamation by
virtue Of which Her Majestys subjects are to
DO rendered liable to DO punished as crimi-
mails without judicial inquiry into the ma
ture OF their acts, and that this house, in the
absence OF such information, prays that said
proclamation shall not continue in force as
to the association named and described
therein"
Mr.. Gladstone said that the Irish viceroy
in declaring that the league had melted to
violence, must have acted on information,
but where was that informationl The Irish
chiefs had right to demand to know the
ground on which the Government had acted.
II the facts were withheld the opposition
must forthwith urge three propositions upon
the House and the Government:
Firstly, that 1t was q slight, almost an out
rage, on the dignity of Parliament to suppose
that it was to discharge such an important
statutory duty without knowing the grounds
Secondly, that it reduced to utter destruc-
ton and to an absurdity the main conten-
ton that the government advanced during
the discussion on the crimes act, that the
safeguard promised had proved farce. He
asked what was the value or meaning of a
Parliamentary approval given in ignorance of
70 al ha N.Iy
by Wellington and Peel in 1899 regarding the
Catholic league, and suppress itl
Thirdly, what could the House think Of In
not bear the light lCheers.l
Mr.. Gladstone said he had always con-
tended that the Government was leRislating
against combinations apart from crime, and
now was the time for the Government to
show that he and his friends were wrong.
But the Government shrank from the test,
and declined the challenge. They had sub
stituted an arbitrary will for regular action.
The principle was a most dangerous and dis
graceful one in any country, and especially
in Ireland Law in Ireland is still on trial.
The proclamation of the National League,
Mr.. Gladstone declared, was a near approach
to declaration OF war on the Irish people
The people OF Ireland generally sympathized
with the League because they believed that
it had been their salvation. IParnellite
cheers Nobody did anything for the tenants
until the league was founded. The Govern
ment were pressing Ireland very hard and it
was evident they intended to work and act
by summary jurisdiction. The Government
action absolutely excluded the House from
anything except an absurd and perfunctory
operation in connection with the great duty
devolving upon it under the statute. Their
cognizance Of this proclamation was reduced
to a mere farce. There would be no jury,
judge. or resident magistrate, and no Parlia-
ment to control Ireland; there would be
nothing but the absolute, unmitigated, ar
bitrary act Of the Irish executive, which was
necessarily partisan. He hoped the Irish
would continue to bear the pressure. They
would not have TO suffer long. 1t was certain
that they would not obey the law through
fear-[cheersl-bu from . strong, vivid,
buoyant hcps which, even at the last
election, was not damaged, and
which was now brighter and hvelier.
[Cheer1l The Irish believed that the
governments policy had not the sanction
Of tee British nation. Irish cheers.l The
Governments foundation was slipping from
under them, and their action in reference to
the proclamation of the league showed that
their strength was failing. Ireland, seeing
this, trusted the English nation to fulfil her
reasonable wishes, and was convinced that
her expectations would not bs disappointed.
Mr.. Gladst one then presented his resolution
amid prolonged cheers
Mr.. Balfour sad that Mr.. Gladstone would
have been wiser had he rested his argument
on the allegations that the House was igno-
rant Of the grounds for the proclamation,
rather than on a defense Of tho league Mr.
Balfour argued that when Mr.. Gladstone pro-
claimed the Land league be old so when Mr.
PArnell was impTiso and when Parliament
was not sitting. and that he afforded no In
formation to anyone concerned He quoted
at length from documents to show that the
league was guilty OF boycotting, coercing,
and instigating infractions OF the law.
Mr. BradiAugh, racical. said that boycott
ting was not peculiarly Irish institution, but
was invented in Egg aud to exterminate the
Irish II the Governments statements were
true, why had they not proclaimed the league
before as an association for the promotion Of
crimei
VIII Support the League
LONDON. Aug. 26-Forty Liberal members